Wrapped up the Silverado Bumper Build (Pics + Videos)

[Lanse]

Hey y'all!!

So, Its done!! Finally done, wrapped up, on the truck and ready to go.

And I'm extremely pleased with how everything turned out.

As you know, I never made up a plan or anything, just went for it pretty much. It was a ton of work.

What were my goals:

1) They have to look awesome.
2) They have to be sturdier than the stock bumpers.
3) They MUST have pulling-points on them.
4) The Front bumper MUST be much higher off the ground than the OEM one.

They needed to be strong too, of course... I wanted to build them so they could handle more pulling than the truck could put out, just for the peace of mind.

I put some 10" plate gussets on the back bumper, which ran from the frame mounts, to the face of the bumper, to prevent it from bending if I pulled or shock loaded against something.

And I knew I'd have to get creative on the front bumper. Worst case scenario was it "bowed" if I pulled too hard. So, I made some plate gussets for it, too, and I ran a pipe right behind the face to keep the mounts spread to where they needed to be. I even used 3/8" plate for the "D" ring mounts, and held that down with 6 passes of 7018. Which I'm sure will come in handy next spring when I use these to pull the lawnmower out of the mud, haha...

Anyway, just thought I'd take a moment to share the last two videos, and some pictures of course. I really hope y'all enjoy these, as much as I enjoyed making them. It was a lot of hours, 59 to be exact, but I feel it was worth it




video1 video2
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[Lanse]

Oops, missed a picture... And put another one in twice... My bad:

 

[scotc]

I like the back. The front, eh...

I think it would look better with a hoop in front of the grill, then two more shorter ones around the headlights. But that"s me. It just looks like something is missing.
 

[USAonly]

Looks good Lanse--I think those hoops on the front are heavy enough for the FORDS to hook on to!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 

[Stick welding]

Hope you cleaned up all the spatter even if it is on the inside. The front bumper looks a little out of place, like it was pieced together because there wasn't enough material to make it the same. The rear bumper follows the contour of the truck better and doesn't stick out as far. I don't really understand the tie down loops? I think tow hooks underneath would look cleaner and easier to hook to. How do you hook a proper tow strap to a closed loop? With a tow hook you can hook a tow strap, chain or whatever you want on it.
 

[Puddles]

If I wanted to attach a tow strap to a D-ring, I'd use one of these.


 

[Stick welding]

I guess if you always carried a shackle would work.
 

[Loosehandle]

I think it looks like something from the Cars movie....
 

[scotc]

The back bumper doesn't have the curve of the grill behind it either....

I think the grill guard would distract us from that.
 

[Jerry/MT]

Lookin" goood, Lanse!
 

[Puddles]

I wish I had a nickel for every shackle pin I've spun!



 

[bill mart]

I was thinking from Mad Max. Bill
 

[Dean Olson]

Cool, I like it.

I had one of those big Ranch Hand front bumpers on a pu. Housed a winch. Looked great and worked perfect. BUT real hard on the front end. Premature wear and expensive repairs due to all the extra weight.
 

[Ron in NS]

Just have to remove spatter and paint......
 

[Bill in IL]

I really like the rear one. Front looks sturdy but a little boxy in my opinion. Just means that now you need a brush guard.